News Release
Former Toronto Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 14-TSA-071
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a former officer with Metropolitan Toronto Police Force, now known as the Toronto Police Service, committed a criminal offence in relation to two men in Toronto. Director Loparco has caused charges to be laid against the former officer.
The SIU was notified of a complaint of a sexual nature against the former officer which was alleged to have taken place between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1971. As a result of the SIU investigation, Peter John Ross (aka “Peter Piper”) is charged with one count of Buggery, two counts of Indecent Assault, one count of Assault With Intent To Commit Buggery and two counts of Gross Indecency, contrary to the Criminal Code provisions as they existed at the time of the alleged offences.
Mr. Ross is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 60 Queen Street West, Toronto, on August 26, 2014. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations